The Cross of Christ! We are so used to the Cross that we no longer feel
the awfulness of this symbol in our lives. It has become something
ordinary. For the early followers of Christ, the Cross was a symbol of how
a human had undergone the very worst of human torture and had accepted it
for our sake. Always we hear this phrase: for our sake. Jesus became
human for our sake. Jesus lived for our sake. Jesus suffered for our
sake. Jesus died for our sake. Jesus rose for our sake. For our sake
means also for my sake, for me personally.

It is not often that a feast such as that of the Cross takes a more
important place than the normal Sunday liturgy. But a feast of Christ
takes such a place when it falls on a Sunday in Ordinary time. So today we
contemplate the Cross of the Lord.

Did Jesus have to die on the Cross? This is a question that avoids the
simple fact: Jesus did die on the Cross for my sake, for our sake. The
Cross is foolishness and is for really bad people and for slaves. Jesus
took all of that on Himself for my sake, for our sake.

What was a symbol of deep shame becomes a symbol of eternal love, of
boundless love—for my sake, for our sake. It is not easy for any of us to
accept that another person loves us completely, even in marriage or in a
religious community. It is not easy to believe in love, especially when we
see desires all around us which are not love. It is not easy to want to
give our lives in love, even when we may have fallen in love. Love is such
a compelling commitment to another person—and it requires everything we
have and all that we are.

Part of the symbol in the celebration of today is the lifting up of the
serpent by Moses for the healing of the people. The people are healed by
that which they were trying to kill. The serpent is lifted up on a pole
and by looking at it, the people were saved. For us who come after Christ,
it is easier to see this symbol. We are healed of our sins by look a

Readings of the day:
First Reading: Numbers 21.4-9
Second Reading: Philippians 2.6-11
Gospel: John 3.13-17